Fort Jones apothecary offers herbal remedies

Thursday

Salmon River Apothecary and Gifts enjoyed its opening this week at 11943 Highway 3 in downtown Fort Jones in the same building as the farm-to-table restaurant, Three Little Birds.

Salmon River Apothecary and Gifts enjoyed its opening this week at 11943 Highway 3 in downtown Fort Jones in the same building as the farm-to-table restaurant, Three Little Birds.

Shop owner and Siskiyou County resident Jamie Scepkowski is excited to offer different “wildcrafted” and sustainably harvested herbal remedies that she makes, such as fire cider (she calls her version Fighter Cider), heal all salve and elderberry syrup.

Additionally, the shop includes an assortment of tinctures and teas. In the future, Scepkowski hopes to sell bulk herbs, and her space also touts locally made art. All products are sustainably harvested, organic and non-GMO.

“Herbalism as activism is my true calling. Though most things in my shop are for sale, I’m offering free tea, tinctures, and literature that’s supportive of the lungs as we breathe in this heavy smoke every day due to the fires. It’s a small way that I can help make plant medicine more accessible. Everyone deserves access to the medicine they need. I’ve found myself doing more work in recent years that combines medic work and herbalism, and I think I’ve found my niche,” Scepkowski said.

As a resident of the unincorporated community of Forks of Salmon, the name Salmon River Apothecary was an obvious choice.

Scepkowski has studied herbalism her entire life, and she has taken several courses at the Dandelion Herbal Center in Kneeland, California. Scepkowski, who has also taken medic classes, believes that her overall medical knowledge is a mixture of classes, being self-taught, working with friends and exploring nature. In particular, she is fond of Rosemary Gladstar and Michael Tierra. After running her apothecary store online for awhile, opening up a shop was the next step in following her passion.

“Herbalism is my life. Every day I’m surrounded by plant medicine, and I realized what a far drive it is to access bulk herbs and supplies from the valley. So I thought, hey! I can help make this more accessible for everyone.” Scepkowski said.

The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Thursdays the shop stays open until 8 p.m.

Scepkowski feels that herbalism is a type of health security, and that the stories of how plants can be used to heal should continue to be passed down to younger generations. Scepkowski invites people to come down to enjoy tea, and engage in a conversation about nature, herbs and art. She also has plans to lead nature walks in the future and medicine making workshops.

“I’ll be teaching several fire cider workshops this coming fall, at the Women’s Herbal Symposium, and the Permaculture Convergence, and am planning to do a workshop here in the shop during August as well! I haven’t finalized the date, but follow Salmon River Apothecary and Gifts on Facebook to stay updated on classes and offerings,” Scepkowski said.

Crafted with a holistic intention, Salmon River Apothecary and Gifts is a location for those who are new to herbalism and those who are seasoned foragers and herbal wellness remedy gurus. Scepkowski encourages people to try a natural remedy before they dive into the use of medications, which can cause unwanted symptoms in individuals.

“It’s tried and true. I use the remedies, they make me feel better, and they work. We live in such a toxic world already, so if there are ways we can avoid any more, why not? I save Western medicine for times when I really need it, I don’t object to it. But if I have a migraine and I can walk into my yard and harvest a plant to use to make it go away, why wouldn’t I? If I’m bleeding and there’s yarrow right there, I’m going to use it to stop the bleeding. Every plant I work with brings me closer to nature, and that’s where I want to be.”

Not only is the shop a place to share plant medicine and art, it is a space to create community. Scepkowski is excited for her space to become a watering hole for those who are also interested in these types of healing remedies.

“Don’t be scared to try something new. Ask questions, look things up online, and come in! I can literally talk for hours about plant medicine. If there’s something that you need and I don’t carry it, I’ll bet I have a friend who does, and we can get it for you, or I can make something new,” Scepkowski said.

As natural remedies gain popularity in the secular culture, along with the rise of yoga and meditation, Scepkowski believes her store will become part of a growing ideology that is spreading across America. She is also open to hosting more artists to work in her space. Along with the shop, her products are also online.

Scepkowski sells her products in the shop and on Etsy (www.etsy.com/shop/riverapothecary).

“It’ll probably be a while before I offer wholesale ingredients, but my homemade products are available as wholesale for other retail locations,” she said.

To learn more about Salmon River Apothecary and Gifts, visit the company's business page on Facebook.

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